Confessions of a Shanty Irishman: Third Edition

$13.95

Author: Michael Corrigan

ISBN 978-1-60264-297-3 (softcover)

240 pages

The book concerns growing up in San Francisco's Mission District in an Irish American immigrant family that loves the Catholic Church, the Democratic Party, language and Jameson's whiskey. The protagonist, Corrigan, comes of age during a time of great cultural changes in the US. His grandfather and father appreciate Bing Crosby but are not ready for Elvis. Corrigan's life is reflected through factual and fictional events, from early childhood in a rich Irish culture to the student riots at San Francisco State during the Vietnam War era. He continues a search for identity through drink, romantic love, theatre and the written word. Many phases of development are examined, from Catholic education in the 50s to the icons that changed music and film: Presley, Dean and Brando. The book ends with its beginning, an examination of those forgotten Irish immigrants of another time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Corrigan was born in San Francisco and graduated with a BA and MA in English from San Francisco State. In addition to writing and teaching, Corrigan has spent time in the theatre, working as a director and playwright for various companies including the Playwrights' Theatre in San Francisco and the group formerly known as the Pacific Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles. He studied film at the American Film Institute and worked with several theatre artists including Sam Shepard and Peter Coyote. He currently teaches speech at Idaho State University.